Improvement in clothes-driers



R. W. HUNTON.

CLOTHES-DRIER.

Patented Dec.19, 1876.

JIZVEI' 07" THE GRAPH [C CO.N.Y

"UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIoE.

ROBERT W. HUNTON, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-DRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,540, dated December 19, 1876; application filed July 29, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT W. HUNToN, of Fall River, Bristol county, Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and usefullmprovements in Clothes-Horses, of which the following is a specification:

My improved clothes-horse comprises a series of arms hung'on a horizontal axis, in combination with a guard or guide, the frame on which the arms are hung and the guard or guide being vertically movable, one or both, to and from the other, for the purpose of extending the arms in a horizontal position, or of folding them up in a vertical position, according as it is desired to use the device, or to fold it up out of the way. The approach of the two parts causes the extension of the arms. The contrary movement causes their folding up.

I prefer, for reasons hereinafter stated, to make both parts vertically movable, and to arrange the hinged arms so that they shall radiate from a common center, and, by the action of the guard or guide, be spread open or folded up, somewhat like the ribs of an umbrella.

The accompanying drawing represents the manner in which my improvements are or may be carried into effect.

Figure 1 is a view of the clothes-horse with the arms extended, and with both their supporting-frame and the guard or guide in their lowest position. Fig. 2 is a view of the same parts in their highest position, with the arms still extended. Fig. 3 is a view of the clothesa vertical bearing-plate or pillar, B, of any desired length, upon which slides the supporting-frame G, that carries the hinged or pivoted arms D. These arms are hung upon a horizontal axis, formed, in thisinstance, by the curved rod or wire a, upon which they are one for each arm, spaced the proper distance from one another to receive the arms which pass through them, as shown in the drawing. To the frame F is attached a lifting-cord, d, which passes over a pulley above the plate B, and thence down in a convenient position to be caught hold of. On the base of the arms frame 0 is a handle, e.

The above comprisesa description of the preferred form of a clothes-horse embodying my invention. If the device is to be used in a room it is, preferably, attached to the wall at a point near the ceiling and over the stove. It is operated and used as follows: When not in use it occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, the cord d being made fast, so as to hold up the guide or guard. To lower the arms the cord is unloosed, and the guard E is allowed to drop to the position shown in Fig. l, which has the effect of lowering the arms into a horizontal position, and spreading them apart. They are maintained in this position by resting on the bottom of the slots in the guard. The clothes are now hung on the arms, and then, if desired, the whole device, including guard and arms, can be elevated out of the way by pulling on the lifting-cord (1, thus bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. The projecting portions of the arms form the longer arms or levers, having fulcrums at the points where they rest on the guard, and serve by their weight to hold together to frames (3 and F. To again fold up the arms, the cord is loosed so as to lower the frame and arms to the position shown in Fig. l, the clothes are taken off, the parts are again elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2, the cord is then made fast, and the sliding arms-frame is then pulled down by its handle 0, so as to bring it to the position shown in Fig. 3, or the parts may be brought from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 by holding down the arms-frame and elevating the guard.

I prefer to make both arms-frame and guard vertically movable, so that I may be able to raise or lower them bodily and together. It is manifest, however, that so far as the spreading and lowering and the folding up of the arms is concerned, the same result can be attained by making one of said parts stationary, and the other part movable to and from said stationary part. It is also manifest that the details of construction of the clothes-horse can be considerably varied without departure from the principle of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination of the series of horizontally hin ed or pivoted arms, and the guard or guid engagingsaid arms, substantially as desor bed, one or both of said parts bein g bodily and vertically movable, in order to increase or decrease the distance between 3. The combination, substantially as described, ot' the vertically-movable guard or guide. and the vertically-movable frame carryin g horizontally-hinged arms, the combination being and acting as set forth.

' R. W. HUNTON.

Witnesses:

FEEDRIG A. LOCKWOOD,

ANNIE H. BOWEN,

W. E. BoARnMA 

